Discussion Forums » Topic of the Month
Topic for September 2023 - Longer Healthy Lives
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Our topic for discussion this month is:
The Implications for Society of Longer Healthy Lives
Introduction
Statistical background and useful information sources
- There’s any amount of data on the web but, in the UK, life expectancy is around 80 with 65 of those years expected to be healthy. And life expectancy is increasing faster than healthy years. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-profile-for-england/chapter-1-life-expectancy-and-healthy-life-expectancy & https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/healthandlifeexpectancies
- What do the terms life expectancy, lifespan, longevity and health span mean? | Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing (mpg.de)
AgendaLifespans v Healthspans
- Do we want to live longer if we could do so in good health? Would we want to live to 150? What level of good health? What level of medication input?
- At the moment what is the relationship between increased lifespans and our healthspans? Do we always get a period of ill-health in the last few years? Is there a different relationship for physical health and mental health? What forward path are we currently on?
Does the Government want us to live longer?- Would it benefit the country? Would it benefit the world?
- What are the implications for Public Spending on Pensions, Social Care, NHS, Jobs and Infrastructure? Are there unintended consequences e.g. larger prison population, should life still mean life?
- What would be the population, food production, age profile and environment impacts?
- How would it affect our working lives?
- What would be the other societal consequences and unintended consequences of gradually increasing healthspans (and as a result lifespans)?
- What are/should be the Government’s objectives with regard to lifespan and healthspan?
- Are there any ethical considerations? What about euthanasia?
What can contribute to increasing healthspans?- How do genetics, lifestyle and environment play a part?
- How does lifestyle play a part? What factors can we control?
- Healthy eating, regular exercise, mental activity and sufficient sleep.
More stressful lives, mental well-being.
What are the roles of stress management; practices like mindfulness and meditation; and social engagement?
What role do our homes and our local infrastructure play?
- Healthy eating, regular exercise, mental activity and sufficient sleep.
- What is the role of preventative medicine including personalised monitoring and diagnosis? Plus checkups, screening, vaccinations?
What is the future role of science, technology and innovation?- Can we increase healthspans faster than lifespans?
- Where is aging research leading?
- Is a period of end of life ill-health inevitable. Do we wear out?
- What shortens our lives? Can the 10 hallmarks of aging be tackled?
- Can Senolytic drugs and other clinical trials have a big impact?
What should we be doing?
- What is currently going on to promote longer healthy lives? What Government initiatives are there?
- What interventions should we/Government make?
- Overhaul of NHS and Social Care? Funding for sports clubs and other facilities. Cycle paths, ULEZ etc.
- Education on healthy living
- How can we incent people to adopt a healthier lifestyle? What carrots? What sticks? Should we ‘fat shame’? Should ‘unhealthy’ people have to contribute to their NHS treatment?
- Should we gear the tax system to promote healthy living?
What is the role of employers in keeping us healthy?
- What should be our/the Government’s goal in all this?
Notes
Government Initiatives - Get Active: a strategy for the future of sport and physical activity - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
APPG and Business Initiative
- There’s any amount of data on the web but, in the UK, life expectancy is around 80 with 65 of those years expected to be healthy. And life expectancy is increasing faster than healthy years. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-profile-for-england/chapter-1-life-expectancy-and-healthy-life-expectancy & https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/healthandlifeexpectancies
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The output of this discussion on The Implications for Society of Longer Healthy Lives
is now available at Longer healthy lives